N-halo-n-phenyl-n&#39;n&#39;-dimethyl-formamidinium halides

ABSTRACT

N-HALO-N-PHENYL-N&#39;&#39;N&#39;&#39;-DIMETHYLFORMAMIDINIUM HALIDES CHARACTERIZED BY THE FOLLOWING STRUCTURAL FORMULA:   (((R)N-PHENYL)-N(-X)=CH-N(-CH3)2)(+) X(-)   WHEREIN R IS SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF HYDROGEN, C1-C6 ALKOXY, C1-C6 ALKYLTHIO, C1-C6 ALKYL, BROMINE AND CHLORINE; N IS AN INTEGER RANGING FROM 1 TO 4; X IS ONE SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF BROMINE AND CHLORINE. THESE COMPOUNDS POSSESS PESTICIDAL ACTIVITY AND SHOW ESPECIALLY GOOD FUNGICIDAL ACTIVITY.

United States Patent 3,748,360 N-HALO-N-PHENYL-N'N-DlMETl-IYL- FORMAMIDENIUM HALEDES Alfred H. Miller, Somerset, N.J., assignor to Esso Research and Engineering Company, Linden, NJ.

No Drawing. Original application May 6, 1970, Ser. No. 35,226. Divided and this application July 26, 1972, Ser. No. 275,114

Int. Cl. C07c 123/00 US. Cl. 260564 R 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE N-halo-N-phenyl-N'N'-dimethylformamidinium halides characterized by the following structural formula:

wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C -C alkoxy, C -C alkylthio, C -C alkyl, bromine and chlorine; n is an integer ranging from 1 to 4; X is one selected from the group consisting of bromine and chlorine. These compounds possess pesticidal activity and show especially good fungicidal activity.

H CH; This compound has been alleged to possess good fungicidal activity.

The present invention relates to an N-halo-N'-N- phenyl-NN'-dimethylformamidinium halide represented by the following structural formula:

H CH3 wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C -C alkoxy, C -C alkylthio, C -C alkyl, bromine and chlorine; n is an integer ranging from 1 to 4; X is one selected from the group consisting of bromine and chlorine. These compounds possess pesticidal activity and show especially good fungicidal activity.

This compound is water soluble and has the advantage that it is easily formulated and does not require expensive suspensions or other agents in order to make it readily available for application to the field.

It will be noted that this structure represents an N-halo quaternary compound and difiers from the Ciba structure in that the bromine is located not on the ring, but attached to the nitrogen atom, and actually puts a positive charge on the molecule. It is also important that the same compound, namely the bromide, be employed when bromine is attached to the nitrogen, whereas the chloride is employed when chlorine is attached to the nitrogen. The Ciba patent stated that the parachloro com- Patented July 24, 1973 pound was not effective as a fungicide, whereas in the subject application the parachloro derivatives are equally good fungicidal materials.

Exemplary of those compounds which are encompassed by the above structural formula are the following:

Compound 1 N-bromo-N-(p-chlorophenyD-N'N'-dimethylformamidinium bromide 2 N-bromo-N-(p-chloro-Z-methylphenyl)-N'N'- dimethylformamidinium bromide 3 N-bromo-N-(phenyl)-NN'-dimethylformamidinium bromide N-bromo-N-(2,5-dimethoxypheny1)-NN'- dimethylformamidinium bromide N-bromo-N- (2,4,6-trichlorophenyl) -N'N'- dimethylformamidinium bromide N-bromo-N- (3 -methylthiophenyl) -N'N-dimethylformamidinium bromide N-bromo-N-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-NN'-dimethylformamidinium bromide N-bromo-N-(Z-methylthiophenyl)-N'N'-dimethylformamidinium bromide N-bromo-N- 4-methylthiophenyl) -N'N'-dimethylformamidinium bromide N-bromo-N- (4-methylphenyl -N'N'-dimethylformamidinium bromide N-bromo-N- (p-nitrophenyl) -NN'-dimethylformamidinium bromide N-chloro-N- (p-nitrophenyl -N'N'-dimethy1- formamidinium chloride N-chloro-N- m-nitrophenyl -N'N'-dimethylfor-mamidinium chloride N-chloro-N-(phenyl)-NN'-dimethylformamidinium chloride N-chloro-N- (2,5 -dimethoxyphenyl -N'N'- dimethylformamidinium chloride N-chloro-N-(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)-N'N'- dimethylformamidinium chloride N-chloro-N-(2-methyl-4-chloropheny1)-N'N- dimethylformamidinium chloride The subject compounds enumerated hereinabove can be prepared by reacting either chlorine or bromine -with N,N-dimethyl-N'-phenyl formamide in an inert solvent in the absence of light and at low temperatures.

The preparation of N,N-dimethyl-N'-phenyl formamidine is described in the published German specification, No. 1,172,081, and forms no part of the present invention.

The procedure for making the N-halo quaternary compounds of the subject invention is schematically set forth hereinbelow:

(IIb) 3 Mole ratio I/Ila, llb: 2:1 Preferred mole ratio ratio 1:1 Temp; --3025 C. Pref. temp: --10 C. Solvents: Diethylether benzene TI-IF, CCl H Pref. solvent: Diethylether benzene Pressure: Atmospheric The above reaction can be carried out in a mole ratio of UK ranging from 1:1 to 2:1, preferably 1:1. Temperature can be employed in ranges from 30 to 25 C., preferably 10 to 10 C. and the solvents employed can be any one selected from the group consisting of diethylether benzene, tetrahydrofuran and chloroform, preferably diethylether and benzene are employed. The pressure of the reaction is conducted at atmospheric, but it can be conducted either subatmospheric or at superatmospheric conditions.

The compounds of the invention have general fungicidal properties. They are especially useful in certain types of weed control such as, for example, in application to crop lands to give control of the common weeds, without harming the crop plants; and for the control of crabgrass in lawns.

Fungicidal compositions of the invention are prepared by admixing one or more of the active ingredients defined heretofore, in fungicidally effective amounts with a conditioning agent of the kind used and referred to in the art as a pest control adjuvant or modifier to provide formulations adapted for ready and eflicient application to soil or weeds (i.e., unwanted plants) using conventional applicator equipment.

Thus, the fungicidal compositions or formulations are prepared in the form of solids or liquids. Solid compositions are preferably in the form of granulars or dusts.

The compositions can be compounded to give homogeneous free-flowing dusts by admixing the active compound or compounds with finely divided solids preferably talc, natural clays, pyrophyllite, diatomaceous earth, or flours, such as walnut shell, wheat, redwood, soya bean, and cottonseed flours. Other inert solid conditioning agents or carriers of the kind conventionally employed in preparing pest control compositions in powdered form can be used.

Granulars can be compounded by absorbing the compound in liquid form onto a preformed granular diluent. Such diluents as natural clays, pyrophyllite, diatomaceous earth, flours such as walnut shell, as well as granular sand can be employed.

In addition, grauulars can also be compounded by admixing the active ingredient with one of the powdered diluents described hereinabove, followed by the step of either pelleting or extruding the mixture.

Liquid compositions of the invention are prepared in the usual way by admixing one or more of the active ingredient with a suitable liquid diluent medium. In the cases where the compounds are liquids, they may be sprayed in ultra low volume as such. With certain solvents, such as alkylated naphthalene or other aromatic petroleum solvents, dimethyl formamide, cycloketone, relatively high up to about 50% by weight or more concentration of the active ingredient can be obtained in solution.

The fungicidal compositions of the invention whether in the form of dusts or liquids, preferably also include a surface-active agent sometimes referred to in the art as a wetting, dispersing, or emulsifying agent. These agents, which will be referred to hereinafter more simply as surface-active dispersing agents, cause the compositions to be easily dispersed in water to give aqueous sprays which, for the most part, constitute a desirable composition for application.

The surface-active dispersing agents employed can be of the anionic, cationic, or nonionic type and include, for example, sodium and potassium oleate, the amine salts of oleic acid, such as morpholine and dimethylamine oleates, the sulfonated animal and vegetable oils, such as sulfonated fish and castor oils, sulfonated petroleum oils, sulfonated acyclic hydrocarbons, sodium salt of lignin sulfonic acid (goulac), alkylnaphthalene sodium sulfonate, sodium salts of sulfonated condensation products of naph thalene and formaldehyde, sodium lauryl sulfate, disodium monolauryl phosphate, sorbitol laurate, pentaerythritol monostearate, glycerol monostearate, diglycol oleate, polyethylene oxides, ethylene oxide condensation products with stearyl alcohol and alkylphenol, polyvinyl alcohols, salts, such as the acetate of polyamines from reductive amination of ethylene/carbon monoxide polymers, lauryiamine hydrochloride, laurylpyridinium bromide, stearyl trimethylammonium bromide, cetyldimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride, lauryldimethylamine oxide, and the like. Generally, the surface-active agent will not comprise more than about 5 to 15% by weight of the composition, and in certain compositions the percentage will be 1% or less. Usually, the minimum lower concentration will be 0.1%

The fungicidal compositions are applied either as a spray, granular or a dust to the locus or area. to be protected from undesirable plant growth, commonly called weeds, i.e. plants growing where they are not wanted. Such application can be made directly upon the locus or area and the weeds thereon during the period of weed infestation in order to destroy the weeds, but preferably, the application is made in advance of an anticipated weed infestation to prevent such infestation. Thus, the compositions can be applied as aqueous foliar sprays but can also be applied as sprays directly to the surface of the soil. Alternatively, the dry powdered compositions can be dusted directly on the plants or on the soil.

In applying the fungicidal compositions of the invention for selective weed control as in the control of weeds in cotton or corn fields, the compositions are preferably applied after planting of the crop seeds but before emergence of the seedlings. In other words, the applications are of the pre-emergence type.

The active compound is, of course, applied in an amount sufficient to exert the desired fungicidal action. The amount of the active compound present in the compositions as actually applied for destroying or preventing weeds will vary with the manner of application, the particular weeds for which control is sought, the purpose for which the application is being made, and like variables. In general, the fungicidal compositions as applied in the form of a spray, dust or granular, will contain from about 0.1% to by weight of the active compound.

Fertilizer materials, other fungicidal agents, and other pest control agents such as insecticides and herbicides can be included in the fungicidal compositions of the invention if desired.

The term carrier or diluent as used herein means a material, which can be inorganic or organic and synthetic or of natural origin, with Which the active ingredient is mixed or formulated to facilitate its storage, transport, and handling and application to the plants to be treated.

The carrier is preferably biologically and chemically inert and, as used, can be a solid or fluid. When solid carriers are used, they are preferably particulate, granular, or pelleted; however, other shapes and sizes of solid carrier can be employed as well. Such preferable solid carriers can be natural occurring minerals-although subsequently subjected to grinding, sieving, purification, and/or other treatments-including, for example, gypsum; tripolite; diatomaceous earth; mineral silicates such as mica, vermiculite, talc, and pyrophyllite; clays of the montmorillonite, kaolinite, or attapulgite groups, calcium or magnesium limes, or calcite and dolomite; etc. Carriers produced synthetically, as for example, synthetic hydrated silica oxides and synthetic calcium silicates can also be used, and many proprietary products of this type are available commercially. The carrier can also be an elemental substance such as sulfur or carbon, preferably an activated carbon. If the carrier possesses intrinsic catalytic activity such that it would decompose the active ingredient, it is advantageous to incorporate a stabilizing agent, as for example, polyglycols such as diethylene glycol, to neutralize this activity and thereby prevent possible decomposition of the derivatives of the present nitrated aryl compounds.

For some purposes, a resinous or waxy carrier can be used, preferably one which is solvent soluble or thermoplastic, including fusible. Examples of such carriers are natural or synthetic resins such as a coumarone resin, rosin, copal, shellac, dammar, polyvinyl chloride, styrene polymers and copolyrners, a solid grade of polychlorophenol such as is available under the registered trademark Aroclor, a bitumen, an asphaltite, a wax for example, beeswax or a mineral wax such as paraffin wax or montan wax, or a chlorinated mineral wax, or a microcrystalline wax such as those available under the registered trademark Mikrovan Wax. Compositions comprising such resinous or waxy carriers are preferably in granular or pelleted form.

Fluid carriers can be liquids, as for example, water, or an organic fluid, including a liquefied normally vaporous or gaseous material, or a vaporous or gaseous material, and can be solvents or nonsolvents for the active material. For example, the horticultural petroleum spray oils boiling in the range of from about 275 to about 575 F., or boiling in the range of about 575 to about 1,000 F. and having an unsulfonatable residue of at least about 75% and preferably of at least about 90%, or mixtures of these two types of oil, are particularly suitable liquid carriers.

The carrier can be mixed or formulated with the active material during its manufacture or at any stage subsequently. The carrier can be mixed or formulated with the active material in any proportion depending on the nature of the carrier. One or more carriers, moreover, can be used in combination.

The compositions of this invention can be concentrates, suitable for storage or transport and containing, for example, from about 5 to about 90% by weight of the active ingredient, preferably from about to about 80 wt. percent. These concentrates can be diluted with the same or different carrier to a concentration suitable for application. The compositions of this invention may also be dilute compositions suitable for application. In general, concentrations of about 0.1 to about 10% by weight, of active material based on the total weight of the composition are satisfactory, although lower and higher concentrations can be applied if necessary.

The compositions of this invention can also be formulated as dusts. These comprise an intimate admixture of the active ingredient and a finely powdered solid carrier such as aforedescribed. The powdered carriers can be oil-treated to improve adhesion to the surface to which they are applied.

These dusts can be concentrates, in which case a highly sorptive carrier is preferably used. These require a dilution with the same or a different finely powdered carrier, which can be of lower sorptive capacity, to a concentration suitable for application.

The compositions of the invention can be formulated as wettable powders comprising a major proportion of the active ingredient mixed with a dispersing, i.e., deflocculating or suspending agent, and if desired, a finely divided solid carrier and/or a wetting agent. The active ingredient can be in particulate form or adsorbed on the carrier and preferably constitutes at least about 10%, more preferably at least about by weight of the composition. The concentration of the dispersing agent should in general be between about 0.5 and about 5% by weight of the total composition, although larger or smaller amounts can be used if desired.

The dispersing agent used in the composition of this invention can be any substance having definite dispersing, i.e., defiocculating or suspending, properties as distinct from wetting properties, although these substances can also possess wetting properties as well.

The dispersant or dispersing agent used can be protective colloids such as gelatin, glue, casein, gums, or a synthetic polymeric material such as polyvinyl alcohol and methyl cellulose. Preferably, however, the dispersants or dispersing agents used are sodium or calcium salts of high molecular weight sulfonic acids, as for example, the sodium or calcium salts or lignin sulfonic acids derived from sulfite cellulose waste liquors. The calcium or sodium salts of condensed aryl sulfonic acid, for example, the products known as Tamol 731, are also suitable.

The wetting agents used can be nonionic type surfacts, as for example, the condensation products of fatty acids containing at least 12, preferably 16 to 20, carbon atoms in the molecule, or abietic acid or naphthenic acid obtained in the refining of petroleum lubricating oil frac tions with alkylene oxides such as ethylene oxide or propylene oxide, or with both ethylene oxide and propylene oxide, as for example, the condensation product of oleic acid and ethylene oxide containing about 6 to 15 ethylene oxide units in the molecule. Other nonionic wetting agents like polyalkylene oxide polymers, commercially known as Pluronics can be used. Partial esters of the above acids with polyhydric alcohols such as glycerol, polyglycerol, sorbitol, or mannitol can also be used.

Suitable anionic wetting agents include the alkali metal salts, preferably sodium salts, of sulfuric acid esters or sulfonic acids containing at least 10 carbon atoms in a molecule for example, the sodium secondary alkyl sul fates, dialkyl sodium sulfosuccinate available under the registered trademark Teepol, sodium salts of sulfonated castor oil, sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate.

Granulated or pelleted compositions comprising a suitable carrier having the active ingredient incorporated therein are also included in this invention. These can be prepared by impregnating a granular carrier with a solution of the inert ingredient or by granulating a mixture of a finely divided solid carrier and the active ingredient. The carrier used can consist of or contain a fertilizer or fertilizer mixture, as for example, a superphosphate.

The compositions of this invention can also be formulated as solutions of the active ingredient in an organic solvent or mixture of solvents, such as for example, alcohols; ketones, especially acetone; ether; hydrocarbons; etc.

Where the toxicant itself is a liquid these materials can be sprayed on crops or insects without further dilution.

Petroleum hydrocarbon fractions used as solvents should preferably have a flash point above 73 F., an example of this being a refined aromatic extract of kerosene. Auxiliary solvents such as alcohols, ketones, and polyalkylene glycol ethers and esters can be used in conjunction with these petroleum solvents.

Compositionsn of the present invention can also be formulated as emulsifiable concentrates which are concentrated solutions or dispersion of the active ingredient in an organic liquid, preferably a Water-insoluble organic liquid, containing an added emulsifying agent. These concentrates can also contain a proportion of water, for example, up to about 50% by volume, based on the total composition, to facilitate the subsequent dilution with water. Suitable organic liquids include, e.g., the above petroleurn hydrocarbon fractions previously described.

The emulsifying agent can be of the type producing water-in-oil type emulsions which are suitable for application by low volume spraying, or an emulsifier of the type producing oil-in-water emulsions can be used, producing concentrates which can be diluted with relatively large volumes of water for application by high volume spraying of relatively small volumes of water for low volume spraying. In such emulsions, the active ingredient is preferably in a nonaqueous phase.

The present invention is further illustrated in greater detail by the following examples, but it is to be under- Th stood that the present invention in its broadest aspects, ggi Percent is not necessarily hmited in terms of the reactants, or Name mm 0mm p g nit ge specific temperatures, residence times, separation tech- 9 niques and other process conditions, etc.; or dosage level, g g i g mgt o yu pylz 01 exposure times, test plants used, etc. by which the com- 5... g,. $ifiggigg% gg;ig t 11'19 pounds and/or composltions described and claimed are e y mamidmlum 01110171118 8.8 10.16 prepared and/or used. EMMPLE 4 The following examples illustrate the invention: h

10 The compounds of the sub ect1nvent1on were tested for EXAMPLE 1 their fungicidal activity. The test procedure for conducting a soil fungicide test is as follows:

rme Preparauon 5 3 gggg g gsggg gi d thyl Separate lots of stenhzed soil are inoculated with Pythium, Rhizoctonia, Sclerotium, and Fusarium. The in- 4.0 gm. (12% excess) N-phenyl-N'N-dimethylforml5 oculated soil is placed in 5 oz. Dixie cups and drenched amidine were dissolved in a cooled reaction flask containwith rnl. of a formulatton containing suflicient chemiing 300 ml. absolute diethyl ether giving a clear, colorless l to glVe the 1086 rate Shown in the following tablesolution. The reaction vessel was wrapped in aluminum The t ea d cups are incubated for 2 days at 70 F. foil to keep out the light. While the solution was at 0 The amount of myceilal growth on the 1 S ce 18 C., 3.7 gm. bromine were gradually added. After 0.5 hour, 20 t n rated on a Sca e of ere 0:110 control and the temperature was raised to 20 C. and the precipitated l0=complete control of mycehal growth. solid collected on a filter. The product (4 gms.) was a The following table illustrates the soil fungicidal acbright yellow powder. tivity of some of the test compounds.

Fungicidal test results of- Rate of Compound appli- Fusar- Pyth- Bhizoo- Scleronumber Compound cation mm ium tonia tium 7 N-bromo-N-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-NN-d.imethylformamidinium bromides g g lg 3 1g 5 10 0 9 9 N-bromo N-(-methylthlophenyl)-NN-dimethyltormamidinium bromideg 25 1o l0 .........4 7 3 .'.-:-..:.7.';.:. N-bromoN-phenyl-NN'-dimethyliormamidinium bromldmnzzr..-;.;:.;:. "nu-l: g 25 9 9 6 4 N-brom0-N-(2,5-di1nethoxyphenyD-NN -dimethylformemldinium bromideq'nu; 100 9 10 0 Q N-bromo-N-(Ii-methylthiophenyl)-NN-dimethylformamidinium bromide 100 0 9 0 5 2 N -bromo-N-(p-chloro-2-methylphenyl)-NN-dimethylformamidinium bromide g g 25 9 s 7 9 1.-:.:'....::.';:'..:'; N-bromo-N-(p-ehlorophenyl)-NN-dimethyliormamidinium bromide 10 1o 9 10 14.--:..:;.::;- N-chloro-N-phenyl-NN-dimethylformamidinium chloride :.:'r 0 1g 0 0 15 N-chloro-N-(2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-NN-dimethylforma.midinium chloride- 0 g n 0 16 N-chloro-N-(2,4,G-trichlorophenyl)-NN-dimethylformamidlnium chloride 100 0 9 7 0 17 N-chloro-N-(2-methyl-4-chlorophenyl)-NN-dhnethylf0nuam1dlmum chlonde- 100 0 8 0 0 Theory for C H N Br (percent): C, H, 3.9; N, 9.1. Found (percent): C, 35.9; H, 4.2; N, 9.37.

EXAMPLE 2 The following compounds were prepared according to the procedure described in Example 1. Structures were assigned on the basis of infrared spectra and NMR spectra. All were colored solids:

The following compounds were prepared by passing dry chlorine gas thru a cooled ether solution of the formamidine. All were lighter colored solids.

What is claimed is: 1. Compounds characterized by the following structural formula:

wherein R is selected from the group consisting of C -C alkoxy, and C -C alkylthio, n is an integer ranging from 1 to 4; and X is selected from the group consisting of bromine and chlorine.

2. A compound according to claim 1, N-bromo-N-(4- methylthiophenyl) N,N' dimethylformamidinium bromide.

3. A compound according to claim 1, N-bromo-N-(3- methylthiophenyl) N',N dimethylformamidinium bromide.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,189,648 6/1965 Gerjovich 260-564 3,394,397 7/1968 Duerr et al 260-564 LEON ZITVER, Primary Examiner G. A. SCHWARTZ, Assistant Examiner 

